Our community gathered recently to show our support for and solidarity with the brave citizens of the state of Israel. Why do we do this? Israel has just completed a successful military operation in gaza. Why does it need our support and solidarity?
We must never lose sight of the fact that it is Israel that is under siege. Israel is surrounded by those bent on its destruction and the annihilation of its people.
Since 2005 when Israel left Gaza, uprooting families from their homes, farms, businesses, and houses of worship, southern Israel has been subject to constant attack from terrorist rockets and mortars. This only intensified after Hamas took over Gaza by force in a brutal, bloody coup in 2007.
We rally because we are thinking of residents of towns like Sderot or even cities like Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Beersheva — residents who have advance warning of only 15 seconds of an imminent rocket attack. Fifteen seconds to hear the siren, think where the closest bomb shelter is, and somehow find their way there. We are thinking of residents sleeping in their beds, shopping for food, going to work, picking up their children from school, all with 15 seconds to find cover and pray they will not be killed or maimed.
We are here because we know that no one should have to live like this. We are here because we know that we would never allow our children to be subject to such terror day and night. We are here because we know our government would never stand by and allow such ruthless, wanton destruction to go on without fighting back and taking every step possible to eliminate the threat.
Only after exhausting all other avenues, and exercising supreme restraint, Israel reluctantly launched the recent military operation to root out and destroy the terrorist infrastructure and rocket launching capabilities of Hamas.
During the operation, the state of Israel demonstrated great sensitivity in exercising its force in order to avoid, as much as possible, harming the civilian population not involved in terror. Almost one million leaflets were disseminated to Gaza civilians with instructions to stay away from terrorists and weapons storage sites. Thousands of telephone calls were made to Gaza residents warning them of impending air strikes.
Shall we compare this to Hamas? Let’s see: Israel makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties and targets only terrorists and military combatants. Hamas deliberately targets civilians.
Israel builds shelters, evacuates schools, hides its children at the least sign of attack, and protects its civilian population from the consequences of war. Hamas not only refuses to protect civilians, Hamas actually works to put its own civilian population at risk by attacking from civilian areas and structures, from apartment buildings, mosques, and hospitals. Israel provides for humanitarian aid to reach the civilian population even in the middle of open hostilities.
Hamas misuses and abuses humanitarian symbols for purposes of launching attacks, by using ambulances to transport fighters and weapons, disguising themselves as doctors in hospitals, and using the UN logo or flag to hide behind.
Israel seeks to live in peace with its neighbors and offers to aid in the establishment of a Palestinian state at its side. The Hamas covenant itself is a direct and public incitement to genocide.
Hamas leaders openly refer to Israelis and Jews as the sons of apes and pigs free for the killing, and seek the elimination of the Jewish state. Israelis teach tolerance to their children.
Hamas recruits children into armed conflict and indoctrinates them with hate. Israel is a thriving, vibrant, free, democratic society.
Hamas is a terrorist gang tyrannically holding hostage the people of Gaza. Let us also not forget that Hamas continues to hold hostage Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped on June 25, 2006 and has been kept somewhere in Gaza and in an unknown condition, cut off from all contact with the outside world, in complete derogation of all norms of humane treatment of prisoners.
Is it any wonder then that those of us who value life, who value freedom, who value security, who value the lives of our children, stand with Israel in its struggle to protect itself against the incessant threat to its very existence? Really, where else in good conscience would we stand?
Israel, we stand with you.